The Abandoned Mined Land Division addresses serious safety and environmental
hazards as a result of abandoned mining operations prior to August 1977, throughout
the state of Illinois. Sites may include:

open or improperly sealed mine shafts and slope entrances

gas leaks from mining operations

underground fires and coal refuse pile fires

dilapidated mine buildings and equipment

barren or eroding mine spoils and refuse piles

hazardous highwalls left from mining operations

acid mine drainage

subsidence pits and sags

structures in danger of collapse due to mine subsidence

The division also addresses issues which result from insufficient bond forfeitures,
bonding company insolvency where reclamation operations remain, and operations
from hazardous non-coal mining sites, such as lead, zinc, fluorspar and silica
mines.

Reclamation projects for the division are prioritized based on the potential
threat to public health and safety, and environmental degradation. Sites which
pose a threat to public health or safety have a higher priority than those which
are less threatening to the public or environment.

If you know of or wish to report a site that may fall within the categories
above, please complete the AML Project Application form and submit it to the
Abandoned Mined Land Reclamation Division.

In the event of an emergency, the AML has two offices for which to report the
emergency. Additionally, if the emergency occurs outside of normal business
hours (8:00 am - 5:00pm M-F) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency should
be contacted at 1-800-782-7860.